U.S. patent number 7,306,300 [Application Number 10/812,225] was granted by the patent office on 2007-12-11 for cabinet runner side wall extension.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Metal Fabricating Corporation. Invention is credited to Bernard J. Golias, Sr., Gary R. Kish.
United States Patent |
7,306,300 |
Kish , et al. |
December 11, 2007 |
Cabinet runner side wall extension
Abstract
A cabinet runner side wall extension includes a wall with
opposite sides, a flange extending from the wall, and a tab
extending from the wall. The flange extends substantially normal
from one side of the wall. The tab includes a first portion
extending away from a second opposite side of the wall and a second
portion spaced from and approximately parallel to the wall.
Inventors: |
Kish; Gary R. (Parma, OH),
Golias, Sr.; Bernard J. (Hinckley, OH) |
Assignee: |
Metal Fabricating Corporation
(Cleveland, OH)
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Family
ID: |
33544066 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/812,225 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20040263033 A1 |
Dec 30, 2004 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60458633 |
Mar 28, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/334.1;
312/334.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
88/43 (20170101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
88/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;312/330.1,334.7,334.1,334.5,334.6,334.35,348.1,334.12,334.18,334.39,334.43,334.27,257.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wilkens; Janet M.
Assistant Examiner: Ayres; Timothy M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fay Sharpe LLP
Parent Case Text
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/458,633, filed Mar. 28, 2003, which is
incorporated by reference herein.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A cabinet runner side wall extension in combination with a
cabinet, the cabinet runner side wall extension comprising: a first
wall including a first side and a second side opposite the first
side; a first flange extending at least substantially normal from
the first side of the first wall, wherein the first flange includes
a first portion extending from and substantially normal to the
first wall and a second portion extending from said first flange
first portion and spaced from and substantially parallel to the
first wall; a first tab extending from the second side of the first
wall and positioned adjacent a first end of the first wall, the
first tab including a first portion extending away from the second
side of the first wall and a second portion extending from said
first portion in a first direction and spaced from and
substantially parallel to the first wall; a second tab extending
from the second side of the first wall, wherein the second tab
includes a first portion extending away from the first wall and a
second portion extending from said second tab first portion in a
second direction opposite the first direction and spaced from and
substantially parallel to the first wall, the second tab being
positioned adjacent the first end of the first wall; wherein each
second portion of the first and second tabs directly attaches to a
side wall of the cabinet and provide a predetermined gap between
the first wall and the cabinet side wall defined by the distance
that each first portion of the first and second tabs extends from
the first wall; and a wheel positioned adjacent to the first end of
the first wall, wherein the wheel attaches to and is interposed
between the first wall and the second portion of the first flange,
wherein a portion of the wheel protrudes through an opening wherein
a periphery of said opening is surrounded by the first flange.
2. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 1, further
comprising a second flange spaced from the first flange and
extending substantially normal from the first side of the first
wall.
3. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 2, wherein the
first flange extends from a longitudinal edge of the first wall and
the second flange extends from an opposite longitudinal edge of the
first wall.
4. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 2, wherein the
first portion of the first flange is substantially parallel to the
second flange.
5. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 1, wherein the
first tab is substantially L-shaped.
6. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 1, further
comprising an opening in the first wall adjacent the first tab,
wherein the first tab is integral to the first wall and the opening
is formed as a result of the tab being formed from the first
wall.
7. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 1, further
comprising a third tab extending from the second side of the first
wall, wherein the third tab includes a first portion extending away
from the first wall and a second portion extending from said third
tab first portion in the first direction and spaced from and
substantially parallel to the first wall.
8. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 7, wherein the
third tab is positioned adjacent a second end of the first
wall.
9. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 1, wherein the
first wall, the first flange and the first tab are together formed
from a single piece of metal.
10. A cabinet runner side wall extension in combination with a
cabinet, the cabinet runner side wall extension comprising: a first
wall including a first side and a second side opposite the first
side; an upper flange extending from an upper longitudinal edge of
the first wall at least substantially normal from the first side of
the first wall; a lower flange extending from a lower longitudinal
edge of the first wall at least substantially normal from the first
side of the first wall, the lower flange including a first portion
extending from and substantially normal to the first wall and a
second portion extending from said lower flange first portion and
spaced from and substantially parallel to the first wall; a wheel
positioned adjacent an end of the first wall, the wheel extending
through an opening through the first portion of the lower flange,
wherein a periphery of said opening is surrounded by the lower
flange; a first tab including a first portion extending away from
the second side of the first wall and a second portion extending
from said first portion in a first direction and spaced from and
substantially parallel to the first wall; and a second tab adjacent
to the first tab including a first portion extending away from the
second side of the first wall and a second portion extending from
the first portion in a second direction which is opposite the first
direction and spaced from and substantially parallel to the first
wall, wherein each second portion of the first and second tabs
directly attaches to a side wall of the cabinet and provide a
predetermined gap between the first wall and the cabinet side wall
defined by the distance that each first portion of the first and
second tabs extends from the first wall.
11. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 10, further
comprising a third tab, each extending from the second side of the
first wall, wherein the third tab includes a first portion
extending away from the first wall and a second portion extending
from the respective first portion and spaced from and substantially
parallel to the first wall.
12. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 11, wherein the
first tab and the second tab are positioned adjacent a first end of
the first wall.
13. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 12, wherein the
third tab is positioned adjacent a second end of the first
wall.
14. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 13, further
comprising a fourth tab extending from the second side of the first
wall, wherein the fourth tab includes a first portion extending
away from the first wall and a second portion extending from the
fourth tab first portion and spaced from and substantially parallel
to the first wall.
15. The cabinet runner side wall extension of claim 14, wherein the
fourth tab is positioned adjacent the second end of the first wall,
the third tab extending in the first direction and the fourth tab
extending in the opposite second direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to guides for slidable shelves in
metal cabinets. Alternatively, the invention may also relate to
guides for drawers in metal cabinets.
Metal cabinets are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture
available. Metal cabinets can be hung in work areas such as metal
or woodworking shops, garages, as well as many other places. Metal
cabinets can also provide storage in vehicles such as trucks and
vans. In addition to the versatility provided by metal cabinets
regarding the location and placement of the cabinets, metal
cabinets also provide versatility in what they store. Metal
cabinets have been used to store threaded rod, wire, brake line,
welding rods, as well as more common items such as tools and
fasteners. Metal cabinets also include slidably mounted shelves and
drawers.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, a prior art spacer A is welded to a side
wall B of a cabinet. A runner C receives a drawer slide (not
shown). Spacer A is positioned between the runner C and the side
wall B so that a front wall of a drawer can fit flush against the
side wall B of the cabinet when the drawer is in a closed
position.
The spacer A is typically fastened to the side wall B using spot
welds D. Runner C is also fastened to spacer A by spot welds D. It
is desirable to eliminate the need for a spacer in the cabinet to
reduce the number of pieces required and the manufacturing costs of
the cabinet. It is also desirable to eliminate the spacer so that
drawers or slidable shelves can be added to a cabinet which does
not already having spacers welded to the sidewalls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a cabinet runner
side wall extension includes a wall, a flange extending from the
wall, and a tab extending from the wall. The wall includes a first
side and a second side opposite the first side. The flange extends
substantially normal from the first side of the wall. The tab
includes a first portion extending away from the second side of the
wall and a second portion spaced from and approximately parallel to
the wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of
manufacturing a cabinet runner side wall includes forming a single
piece of metal such that a first wall is substantially normal to a
first flange. The method further includes forming an opening
through the wall to form a tab such that a portion of the tab is
still attached to the wall. The method further includes bending a
portion of the tab such that the portion is at least substantially
parallel to the wall.
Still other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following
detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and
arrangements of parts, an embodiment of which will be described in
detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof.
FIG. 1 is an elevational end view of a prior art cabinet runner
side wall extension;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inner side of a cabinet runner
side wall extension in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an outer side of the cabinet runner
side wall extension of FIG. 2; and,
FIG. 4 is a side elevational end view of the cabinet runner side
wall extension of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for
purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention
only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 2 illustrates a
cabinet runner side wall extension 2 that attaches directly to the
side wall of a cabinet, in accordance with the present invention.
The side wall extension eliminates the need for the spacer A of
FIG. 1. The cabinet runner side wall extension 2 includes a main
wall 10 having a first retaining flange 12 and a second retaining
flange 14. The extension 2 in the preferred embodiment is
manufactured of metal such as steel that is cold formed to the
desired shape. Metal is preferably used so that the extension 2 can
be welded to a side wall of a metal cabinet; however, other
materials can be used without departing from the scope of the
present invention. When the extension is attached to a cabinet, the
main wall 10 has a vertical orientation.
Retaining flanges 12, 14 each extend substantially perpendicular
from the main wall 10. Flanges 12, 14 are substantially parallel to
each other. Flange 14 has a substantially L-shaped configuration.
As best seen in FIG. 4, flange 14 has a first leg 18 extending
substantially perpendicular from the main wall 10 and a second leg
20 disposed in a spaced relationship from main wall 10. Second leg
20 extends from and is substantially perpendicular to first leg 18
and is parallel to the main wall.
Referring again to FIG. 2, a wheel 24 is positioned proximal a rear
end 26 of the extension 2 which is positioned adjacent a rear
portion of the cabinet. Wheel 24 is interposed between wall 10 and
a retaining wall 28 extending from flange 14. The wheel 24 has a
fastening means, such as a rivet 30, through its central axis which
is attached to the retaining wall and the main wall. As can be best
seen in FIG. 3, the second retaining flange 14 has an opening 32
through which a portion of the wheel 24 extends.
Referring still to FIG. 3, the extension 2 also includes a front
end 36 which is positioned adjacent a front portion of the cabinet.
Substantially L-shaped tabs 40 protrude from the main wall 10. In
the embodiment shown, extension 2 includes four tabs 40a, 40b, 40c,
and 40d. It should be recognized that other numbers of tabs may be
used with the extension. Each tab 40 includes a first leg 42 that
extends from and is substantially perpendicular to wall 10 and a
second leg 44 that extends from and is substantially perpendicular
to leg 42 and is substantially parallel to and spaced from wall 10.
The first leg 42 can extend at other angles than perpendicular from
the wall 10 without departing from the scope of the present
invention. The tabs 40 may be punched out of the main wall 10 thus
leaving an opening 46 which was previously filled with the material
of the tab. Alternatively, the tabs 40 could be a separate piece of
metal or plastic and welded onto the extension 2. For example,
second leg 44 of the tab can be fastened to a cabinet sidewall via
welding or other suitable means. The gap formed between leg 44 and
wall 10 provides a space so that a slidable shelf or drawer is
properly mounted and spaced from the cabinet side wall, thus
eliminating the need for the spacer A of FIG. 1.
Referring again to FIG. 4, retaining flanges 12, 14 and leg 20 form
a channel to receive a drawer slide. Leg 44 is spaced from wall 10
so that a drawer will fit flush with the front edge of a cabinet
and thus eliminating a separate spacer.
The invention has been described with reference to a preferred
embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to
others upon the reading and understanding of this specification. It
is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so
far as they are obvious to one skilled in the art of cabinetry.
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